EP Review: Skarlett Riot – “We Are The Brave”

When Scunthorpe’s Skarlett Riot released their debut album in 2013 they found themselves getting a lot of attention, including airplay on Radio One. And we all know how important that is.

Anyway, despite the attention they were getting and a charismatic front person, it was pretty clear they weren’t really doing anything to stand out from the pack. They just didn’t have the songs. Fast forward to 2015 and the busy little beavers have been in the studio again recording this EP, and this time around they’ve hit on something pretty special.

Opening track Divide Us powers along on a heavy riff and a melody that immediately works its way into your brain and they top it off with a huge ‘Woah-oh’ laden chorus, Cascade and Wake Up follow in a similar vein keeping up the energy and the hooks.

Rising is one of the stand out tracks on the EP, containing as it does a constant barrage of hookular goodness and quality riffage. Skarlett Riot obviously know how to end a record and leave you wanting more, with the adrenaline fuelled Are You Alive and it’s big chorus and call to arms lyrics. They even throw in a heavy breakdown for good measure.

Final Thoughts

Barring a few cliched moments, We Are The Brave is a great collection of melodic heavy rock songs. In the time between their album and this EP Skarlett Riot have become a better band in all respects. The songs are better, the playing is better and Skarlett's vocal delivery has certainly gone up a notch.
Basically, if their next album isn't a belter they've got some explaining to do.